David Silva's Beasts of the Mesozoic Tyrannosaur Series

[suspsy]

I think the Moros looks really nice in those colours.

I was just looking at the collage of squamate images that David Silva posted at the very beginning of this venture and I noticed that he still hasn't used quite a few of them. I'm hoping the Albertosaurus will be coloured after either the emerald tree boa, the parrot snake, or the palm pit viper. Something in a vivid bright green.

[Halichoeres]

nanuqsaurus is a surprising omission from this series.  I would have thought it a chance to make something very interesting and a bit different...

Almost nothing is known of Nanuqsaurus. I guess that's true of Moros too, but at least Moros has a complete hindlimb, which gives some idea of proportions.

[suspsy]

The omission of Xiangguanlong is the one that perplexes me the most. I also still feel Zhuchengtyrannus should have been included. It probably would sell well due to the existence of the BotM Sinoceratops.

[andrewsaurus rex]

nanuqsaurus is a surprising omission from this series.  I would have thought it a chance to make something very interesting and a bit different...

Almost nothing is known of Nanuqsaurus. I guess that's true of Moros too, but at least Moros has a complete hindlimb, which gives some idea of proportions.

Yeah, I realize but it lived in north Alaska....that's got to add some appeal.    There is a surprising amount of artwork for Nanuqsaurus around; it's even featured multiple times on Dino Dana!     I guess that is specifically because of its cold weather home and how it seems out of place with a dinosaur, which most think of living in hot, steamy jungles.  My guess is BOTM felt that since they were dong Yutyrannus , that would be enough.  Not for me.   

[suspsy]

This just in: a new and improved version of the golden pheasant colour scheme for Dilong. I like it!

@Faelrin, when you have time, can you please replace the Dilong artwork in the OP with this one?

[Faelrin]

@suspsy Honestly that slipped my mind. I'll add it when I get home. Thanks for mentioning it.

Edit: Got home late. I'll add it tomorrow morning instead.

[stargatedalek]

That looks so much better!

[suspsy]

Yes, it's a big improvement over the original artwork.

On another note, David revealed today that the Yutyrannus sculpt is ready for painting. That will be exciting to see.

[Shonisaurus]

Although I am a fan of more conservative colors for dinosaurs, honestly this pheasant-style dilong looks super cool.

[Faelrin]

Here's the pic in question with the Yutyrannus:



I'm so excited to see the sculpt has been finished and will be painted up soon.

@suspsy I added the new Dilong coloration image to the op. Hopefully in a satisfactory way.

[suspsy]

Completed Moros artwork is on Facebook. The painted redstart colours suit it well.

Albertosaurus is the last one now!

[Faelrin]

Here's the image:



Looks most excellent to me, though not one I was really planning on getting due to the fragmentary nature of it. I guess I'll wait and see how the final product looks though. I do think how the hands were done here are pretty fascinating.

[suspsy]

I will always be of the opinion that Moros  should never have been included in the series in the first place, frankly. It's known only from just a few legs bones and a couple of teeth, for Pete's sake. I think Xiongguanlong deserves a spot far more. I also think Zhuchengtyrannus and Alioramus should definitely have been included, and arguably Sinotyrannus and Thanatotheristes as well.

But hey, quite a few ceratopsians and dromaeosaurs didn't make the cut either. This whole shebang is 100% David Silva's baby, it always will be, and whatever decisions he makes, they should be respected and accepted. And if we truly don't like something Creative Beast puts out, well, we can simply not buy it.

Which reminds me, I should put aside some more money for that 1/18 T. rex.

[suspsy]

More images of the unpainted prototype Yutyrannus are on social media now.

[Flaffy]

More images of the unpainted prototype Yutyrannus are on social media now.

[Flaffy]

Feathers still look a little short in some areas, but overall it's a phenomenal sculpt.
As much of a paleomeme as a white-coloured Yutyrannus is, I still would've liked to see a polar/winter version of the figure.

I will always be of the opinion that Moros  should never have been included in the series in the first place, frankly. It's known only from just a few legs bones and a couple of teeth, for Pete's sake. I think Xiongguanlong deserves a spot far more. I also think Zhuchengtyrannus and Alioramus should definitely have been included, and arguably Sinotyrannus and Thanatotheristes as well.

I was thinking the same as well. Same goes for Alectrosaurus imo, which is also only known from highly fragmentary remains iirc.

[andrewsaurus rex]

the Yutyrannus sculpt does look good.  Could have done with less tail articulation imo (ie NONE) but an abundance of articulation is the way all the BOTM series figures are.

I'll wait and see how the final paint scheme looks but I may repaint it white.  This is one of my more highly anticipated figures.

[Dobber]

Really like how Yutyrannus turned out. I thought the first picture looked odd but these look much better.

Chris

[Bread]

I too was skeptical of the initial images of the Yutyrannus head sculpt that was revealed a while back, but this seems to be much better now. Looks great, my only complaint and this was mentioned earlier by another member, is that the feathers lack some length and seem to lack a sort of shaggy look to them (again, this is just a favor thing of mine but definitely not an issue).

[Faelrin]

@Flaffy I agree with you there regarding the feathers, and even the white/snowy themed one (though the Stellar's Sea Eagle coloration is like a happy compromise in that regard). Still I think this is probably my top favorite sculpt so far, other then the juvenile T. rex.

I also agree with both you and @suspsy regarding opting out the fragmentary genera for those that have better remains, but much too late for that now. Still at least the more fragmentary ones are often done rather nicely, despite their more speculative nature.

Based on the limited research I've done, these seem to be the genera with the best remains to work from (which could be narrowed down even further):

Spoiler

Tyrannosauroidea:
Tanycolagreus?
Dilong
Eotyrannus
Suskityrannus
Xiongguanlong

Proceratosauridae:
Guanlong
Proceratosaurus (most of the skull only)
Yutyrannus

Eutyrannosauria:
Appalachiosaurus
Bistahieversor

Tyrannosauridae:
Albertosaurinae:
Albertosaurus
Gorgosaurus

Tyrannosaurinae:
Lythronax
Teratophoneus
Alioramus
Qianzhousaurus
Daspletosaurus
Tarbosaurus
Tyrannosaurus
Zhuchengtyrannus (partial skull material)

[close]

Of those, only Tanycolagreus(?), Xiongguanlong, Appalachiosaurus, Alioramus, and arguably Zhuchengtyrannus are missing.

Honestly the price is really going to determine how many of these I can ultimately get, especially initially, but I really do want this Yutyrannus, the Guanlong, the juvenile T. rex (and if possible the adult, if not the 1/35), and of course the WWD styled exclusive one as well.